Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 47

Sāṅkhya: Categories of the Absolute Truth and the Unfolding of Creation

Tattva-vicāra

Devanagari script

नभोगुणविशेषोऽर्थो यस्य तच्छ्रोत्रमुच्यते । वायोर्गुणविशेषोऽर्थो यस्य तत्स्पर्शनं विदु: ॥ ४७ ॥

Transliteration

nabho-guṇa-viśeṣo ’rtho yasya tac chrotram ucyate vāyor guṇa-viśeṣo ’rtho yasya tat sparśanaṁ viduḥ

Translation

虚空の特質である「音」を対象とする感覚は聴覚（耳）と呼ばれ、風の特質である「触」を対象とする感覚は触覚（皮膚）と知られる。

Synonyms

• nabhaḥ-guṇa-viśeṣaḥ: the specific quality of ether
• nabhaḥ-guṇa-viśeṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nabhas (प्रातिपदिक) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: nabhaḥ-guṇa (genitive relation) + तत्पुरुषः: guṇa-viśeṣa (determinative)

• arthaḥ: the object/meaning (i.e., the object of sense)
• arthaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• yasya: of which/whose
• yasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; relative pronoun

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Determiner)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• śrotram: ear (organ of hearing)
• śrotram: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrotra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• ucyate: is called
• ucyate: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Passive voice (कर्मणि प्रयोग), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• vāyoḥ: of air
• vāyoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• guṇa-viśeṣaḥ: specific quality
• guṇa-viśeṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुषः (determinative)

• arthaḥ: object (of sense)
• arthaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• yasya: of which/whose
• yasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; relative pronoun

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Determiner)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• sparśanam: touch (sense of touch/skin)
• sparśanam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sparśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• viduḥ: they know/declare
• viduḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: Perfect tense (लिट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

Purport

Sound is one of the qualifications of the sky and is the subject matter for hearing. Similarly, touch is the qualification of the air and is the subject of the touch sensation.

Characters & Entities

• Kapila
• Devahuti

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the sense of hearing and its object?

This verse states that the ear (śrotram) is defined by its specific object—sound (śabda), the distinctive quality of ether (nabhaḥ).

Why did Lord Kapila explain the senses to Devahuti in Canto 3?

Kapila teaches Devahuti Sāṅkhya analysis—distinguishing elements, qualities, and senses—so she can gain clear knowledge of matter and transcend it through devotion and realization.

Practical application of understanding sense objects in modern life?

By knowing each sense has a particular pull (like sound for the ear and touch for the skin), one can practice mindful restraint and redirect attention toward śravaṇam (hearing sacred topics) and devotional discipline.